Abstract

Purpose: to investigate the state of cerebral hemodynamics according to rheoencephalography data in patients with sound perception disorders caused by COVID-19.

Materials and methods: We analyzed the rheoencephalography indicators obtained from 54 people who got sick with COVID-19 and had impaired sound perception. Fifteen healthy individuals with normal hearing served as controls. A total of 69 rheoencephalograms were analyzed.

For the study of cerebral circulation, rheoencephalography was used in the frontomastoid and occipitomastoid leads, which reflect the state of cerebral circulation, respectively, in the carotid and vertebral-basilar systems. The examination was carried out with the help of a computer rheograph of the company “DX – systems” (Ukraine).

Results and discussion: Normal indicators of the state of cerebral blood circulation according to REG data were not registered in any patient. In 56,7 % of the examined persons, we observed an increase in the tone of cerebral vessels with the phenomena of angiospasm. Obstruction of venous outflow took place in 78,9 % of cases in the carotid system and in 91,2 % – in the vertebral-basilar system. As for pulse blood filling, in persons who fell ill with COVID-19, (69,8 %) cases of its decrease in the carotid system and (89,0 %) in the vertebral-basilar basin were recorded. In the vertebral-basilar system, there was also an asymmetry of REG curves (11,0 %) in the studied persons.

In the examined patients, there were changes in the tone of cerebral vessels and obstruction of venous outflow, as well as a decrease in pulse blood filling in the vertebral-basilar systems, which was reflected in the quantitative indicators of REG. This was evidenced by changes in α, dicrotic (DKI), diastolic (DSI) and rheographic (Ri) indexes of the REG curve in both cerebral blood supply systems.

Conclusions:

1. Cerebral blood circulation disorders according to REG in patients who have impaired sound perception after suffering from COVID-19 are often manifested by an increased tone of cerebral vessels (56,7 %), a decrease in pulse blood flow (89,0 %), and difficulty in venous outflow (91,2 %).
2. In the state of cerebral hemodynamics, according to REG data, in patients with impaired sound perception who have contracted COVID-19, there are changes in pulse blood filling in the vertebral-basilar basin and obstruction of venous outflow, as well as angiospasm, especially in the basin of the internal carotid arteries, about which the indicators of DCI (59,63±0,73) % (t=2,97, P<0,05), DSI (63,28±1,17) % (t=0,42, P>0,05) and Ri (0,78±0,04) (t=5,68, P<0,01).
3. Treatment of persons who have contracted COVID-19 and have sensorineural hearing disorders should be comprehensive, taking into account changes in cerebral hemodynamics.

Key words: auditory analyzer, sensorineural deafness, COVID-19, cerebral hemodynamics.